Just what we needed. Another Idaho airport political scandal. And this one feels petty.
From an actual Larry LaRocco campaign press release:
"Jim Risch throws around money like an oil executive on a binge. He spends three times more for airplane flights than U.S. Senate candidate Larry LaRocco.
"On Monday, fate put Risch and LaRocco on the same flight to Washington, D.C. LaRocco made the trip in coach with budget-minded travelers. But first, he had to bump past Risch who was luxuriating like a Roman emperor in the first-class cabin."
The crux of this dispute: LaRocco says Risch, Idaho's lieutenant governor and GOP Senate nominee, must have paid about $3,350 for his first-class ticket. LaRocco, the Democrats' nominee, says he made the trip for $990.
Here's the response from Risch's campaign chairman and son, Jason Risch: "The lieutenant governor's trip was not official state business. No taxpayer funds were expended.
"This was a campaign trip. The campaign paid $522.01 for a coach round-trip ticket. The lieutenant governor was upgraded at the gate by the gate agent due to the miles he has accrued. It was a two-day trip, he stayed at the Comfort Inn. He does not travel in luxury."
So this is beautiful. Two candidates vying to join the U.S. Senate are bickering over who got the best deal on airfare. This issue feels like a stretch. Perhaps, if the campaign doesn't work out, LaRocco is angling for a job as a travel agent.
All I know is, I would've paid good money to watch the reactions when these two less-than-friendly adversaries met up with each other on the same plane.
Delicious
Digg
Yahoo
Very bad news for LaRocco
"...he had to bump past Risch..." How hard was the bump? Did he tap his feet as he bumped past? Was he arrested?
Do you think LaRocco will announce his "intent" to drop the campaign, but then continue.
Oh my, and just as he was making a comeback...
LaRocco is insane
Did larry or you kevin consider that Rich probably flies enough to earn free upgrades? Seems more probable to me.
I am still waiting for LaRocco to release a list of all the corporate paid for travel he took as a member of congress proir to finance reform!
LaRocco is incoragable when in come to throwing stones from his glass house.
Flying Cows
Risch claims to be a rancher.
Why would a rancher be flying so much to earn free upgrades to 1st Class? You think those are 'really' free? I know a few real ranchers and they aint flying 1st class.
What? No wives on the trip?
rancher
Keep in mind that the farm price support bill that Bush vetoed--and that Congress overrode the veto--included farm price support payments to those desperately poor farming families with annual incomes up to $1.5 million. Maybe the ranchers you know don't fly first class, but I'll bet there are a lot of farmers who, if they aren't flying first class, are flying in their own jets.
Remember: farm price supports is to help poor people (the couples making $1.5 million a year). That's why Democrats passed that bill.
And those big ag corporations are still
paying $1.25 & less per mile to truckers buying fuel at $4.70 a gallon getting 5.5 miles per gallon. It's a good thing our tax $ is keeping agri corruption afloat through these money making years. How many independent truckers going broke watch their tax $ go to farm subsidies? All of them!
The math works
So at $1.25 per mile X 5.5 mpg = $6.87. Minus $4.70 a gallon leaves $2.17 per mile.
A 500 mile day brings a net of $1,085.00. I understand of course that fuel is not the independents' only cost, but it doesn't look that grim.
However, I'll be watching your prediction that all of them go broke. Perhaps they could try farming since that is where the subsidies are...
I'm not sure we're on the same page.
$1.25 a mile x 500 is $625. 500 miles divided by 5.5 MPG is 90.9 gallons of fuel at $4.70 a gallon=$427.23. $625 minus $427.23=$197.77. If a trucker made $200 a day & had to pay expenses I don't think he'll be in business very long, end of the month maybe.
That $1,085 is every week now, not every day. Know what insurance costs? I used to pay $650 a month. Tires, oil, labor at $100 an hour if you don't do it yourself like I used to on my weekends. What if you're paying somebody to drive? .35 cents a mile isn't anything to write home about & that's $175 a day at 500 miles, add workmens comp. If they don't have a load everyday how much does that take out of that $1,085? How much is the truck payment on an $80 or $100K truck? Let's not forget the permits, the licensing. Every little stretch of road has a permit required for over length, over width, $50 hear, $100 there. IFTA requires you pay every state their fair share of fuel taxes, Oregon plays by their own rules. $2,000 on the creidt card to run Oregon for the year where you have to drive 55 MPH? Tolls out East on roads your taxes paid to build, tax $ the government hands out to every congressman who can get it for their home state. Roads the government is going to sell to foreigners so they can charge you higer tolls next year because they have to rebuild roads neglected for years. all those tas cuts corporations get so they can provide jobs are starting to add up in an infrastrcuture $2 trillion in need of funding.
They won't all go broke, the Mexican carriers Bush promotes, illegals who buy fuel at a buck or two less per gallon before coming into the US, might make it. You know the ones driving junk that won't pass a dot inspection. That's a big fat comfort, another one of those jobs Americans used to do for a living wage? I'm not great at the math but I know a trucker can't make it at $1.25 a mile. At $4.70 at mile it costs about .85 a mile just for fuel. With that $280 billion farm bill sucking up tax $ from carriers just like the rest of US, I would think Congress might add in a minimum per mile agri corruption would have to pay carriers so as not to break them while sucking up all that fuel we're paying so much for.
What good does it do for a trucker to burn 125 gallons of fuel a day if it isn't making any money? Not only is it breaking the trucker it's using fuel we don't have to waste. Sure, somebody is making money but is it really doing US any good if one person in the chain is making money & the rest are losing? Legally, depending on what state you're in, the speed limit might allow you to drive up to 700 miles in a day, HOS allowing eleven hours drive time. Carriers are holding the speed down to increase milage, less miles less money. 700 x $1.25=$875, $640 for fuel, 600x $1.25=$750, $512 for fuel, & 500 x $1.25=$625 with that $427 for fuel. Sure you save money by not driving as fast but how many loads do you lose a year, how many do you lose because you're not there the day before when you could have had a $2.00 a mile load, settled of $1.65? What happens when you sit for two days because you missed that load? 700 miles isn't a given, some days only get 350 miles & hours at the dock which don't pay squat.
You might want to give the truck drivers a little more credit for the job they do. Ever drive 700 miles day, work 3 hours loading & unloading, day after day, nine or ten weeks away from home, weekends in a truck stop while the kids are growing up. Ever eat the great meals, enjoy all the hot showers, three a week if youre lucky, & sleep in a bunk while trucks pull in & out all night long? Ever come up on a truck just after it ran into an overpass or off the road & hit the other side of a canal. I have a picture right here on my desk from just three yearas ago, a concrete pillar in the driver's seat of a conventional. It isn't a good picture because I took it from a distance with a cheap camera, didn't want to see it up close. I've seen enough of those, nothing to do for that guy.
All the food you buy doesn't just majically appear on the shelves, some poor slob busted his nuts getting it there. The numbers I see indicate over 100k trucks have come off the road this year alone, more would be my bet. First quarter 934 businesses went under, 45K trucks off the road & we needed 100k more drivers end of last year.
If you're in the market for a good used truck, there are all kinds for sale right now at really good prices. Go for it, the math you using, I'm sure you'll make out like a bandit. Never mind drivng asleep at the wheel, you get used to it. Right.
You've convinced me
Good post, and I agree. Long haul trucking is no longer viable. We need to do an emergency ramp-up of our rail system and get those trucks off the highway, out of the fuel business and run all long haul freight on very efficient trains.
Trucking should be limited to short delivery from the closest railhead to the destination.
Finally something we agree on. Well done.
Corporate $ has US in a position we shouldn't be in.
9-5-03, Garnnett News Service: Engineers say nation's roads & electrical
grids are crumbling.
In 2001 the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation's structures
a D plus. After an 8-03 blackout it came to light that government spending at
all levels would have to increase 42% to maintain the nations current road
capacity & rise 94% to keep up with growth. The ASCE found no significant
progress since 2001 when a D plus was handed out. $1.6 trillion was the
price tag to fix the infrastructure.
Did you read the article the other day about the nations rail system, billions of $ in upgrades & expansion needed. Where has the Dept. of Transportation been the last twenty years? Where have Congress, Senate, & how many Presidents, been the last 20 years? Taking money from corporations in return for tax cuts! Those corporations used to pay 50% of taxes & now pay approximately 10% Individuals pay the rest which also explains why we have a virtual $9 trillion debt.
How or why people think they're getting tax cuts when they're paying 30% of coproate unAmerica's share plus the 50% they always paid with 10% going to the national debt is the best slight of hand I've ever witnessed.
Those corporations made billions of $ through campaign finance, all the while our infrastructure was deteriorating while our representatives ignor it just like 9/11!
Balance! Like the eight cyclinder engine I used as an example in a recent post. Missing on one cyclinder & the others have to make up for it creating waste. Balance between rail & trucking would be better than 80% rail & 20% trucking or the other way around. Shiplines are next, not enough containers or space on ships. These guys don't want to move their containers inland because they don't have enough & want them close to the dock. Not enough containers or ships? There are AG related, fortune 500 companies in the middle of the US which can't get containers, they're paying a fortune to move product. GRIs, general rate increases by shiplines are killing these guys, driving up our costs is more like it. Increases of $300 for 20 ft & $600 for 40 ft containers the first of May.
Transportation problems are only going to get worse. Think you're paying high prices for fuel, food, & everything else now? Hang on! When we have to start paying for all infrastructure upgrades, roads, electrical, rail, & shipline upgrades, the price of everything just went up again. Where is Congress, Senate, & White House? A better question might be, where is all the money these guys handed out in tax cuts to corporations buyng our representation through campaign finance? The corproations that go offshore to evade taxes, corproations that made billions over the past twenty, thirty years! Balance! Make the individual pay for it all & we all lose. Can't bleed US out forever, we're about to hit the wall.
If we had representation looking at the big picture instead of listening to the money, we might have it covered. When rail takes their money to our representatives they get what they want, trucking get's what they want, & everybody down the line while the real problem grows. Transportation needs to be a well oiled machine all working together to keep it all flowing. Doing favors for trucking today while forgetting about rail or rail while forgetting about trucks isn't working, it's finally caught up with US.
Taxing this guy while giving tax cuts to that guy because he contributed money to a campaign is biting US, it's why rail was taken out of every small town. If it's going to work, we all have to pay something & not go broke paying somebody else's share. Government keeps compounding our problems by taking money from some people & making others pay while our infrastructure falls apart. With all these transportation problems, why are we hearing about them separately? It should be all one issue, transportation. Congress called big oil up, whay didn't we see some numbers on transportation, trucks, ship, rail, & the infrastructure? How could Congress call these guys to get answers & not point out the problems with transportation & infrastructure? Do we have representatives with the knowledge, understanding of how this nation works outside DC? Is there anybody at the Dept. of Transportation putting the whole picture before Congress? Money talks & it doesn't speak for US taxpayers like it does for contibutors.
Money does talk
But here's the deal - if we eliminated all campaign finance money, did away with all lobbyists, etc., our reps would make the same decisions they make today.
Unless we elect different people with different beliefs we'll get what we already have. Thus, since we elect the people we elect it must be what we want.
Whenever you want to know what the people of the U.S. want just look at who we elect to do our bidding for us. That is how a republic works and exactly how we work every day.
I agree with the sorry state of our rail system, I have written numerous times that it will take 10 years of constant upgrades and building and $ billions of investment to get our rail up to speed. Thank the teamsters and trucking industry for their power politics in destroying the railroads.
The good news is that Senator Obama is not accepting any PAC money - so you have a candidate of change right there.
Not saying you can change it over night but
until we make it crystal clear that the influence through campaign finance is in large part interferring with the countries priorities we're not going to ever change it.
Our representatives need to have put before them a list of priorities that override $ given through campaign finance which in many ways influences the votes you speak of.
Let lobbysist & anybody else who has needs, ideas, or suggestions, put them all in a hat & government can weed through it all never seeing a name or comapany, just the idea. It has merit, go from there, no money or idea wher eit came from. No money financing politicians through campaign finance. Make decisions based on the nations needs according to priority. How would any of the corporations which contribute deal with priorities? Take care of the most important first, no band aid fixes where you have to come back & spend more time & money.
Would our infrastructure be almost $2 trillion in need of repair if it was a priority as it is becoming. It's a lot easier & cost effective to fix problems when they're first noticed than wait years while costs to repair increase tenfold. You said it yourself,
I agree with the sorry state of our rail system, I have written numerous times that it will take 10 years of constant upgrades and building and $ billions of investment to get our rail up to speed. Thank the teamsters and trucking industry for their power politics in destroying the railroads.
Thank the teamsters & trucking industry for their power politics in destroying the railroads. $ contributed!
You make the point our rep.s would make the same decisions they make now if we eliminated campaign finance. Unless we elect different people with different beliefs we'll get what we already have. The people don't know what they want, they know what they're told. They vote for people they see the most of due to the money contributed.
Look how America, including our representatives follwed Bush into Iraq. How many people would have ever even though of going to war in Iraq unless told all the stories about WMD even though they were all but proven not to be? Sefless leadership doing what's best for the nation will have people thinking, resoning with common sense. Calling himself a war president should have been the first clue as to what kind of nut Bush is. Just because he started a war & then claimed major fighting ws over just months into it doesn't make him a war president, a trouble maker maybe.
When politicians running for office are all on even ground with no influence from contributors, then people, everyday taxpayers will choose the politician who has the best plan for those people, not some made up story or promises broken just to run back to contributors with tax cuts so as to stay in office. How many incumbents win elections compared to newbies? Put the nations needs first.
The country is no different than a car or machine, it needs maintenance or doesn't run well, creates waste. What good does it do to grease the wheel bearings ten times a day if you never maintain/change the motor oil? Campaign finance is the sqeaky wheel while the nation's motor has a knock that isn't going away. The failing infrastructure, illegal immigration, free trade taking jobs which drive the demand of oil in other nations, demand for oil we need in turn driving up the cost fo everything, & a list perpetual seems to indicate democracy needs an overhaul.
A straw man
Your point about incumbents vs. newbies is a straw man argument. There is nothing wrong with incumbency. If I voted for the right person the last time I'll vote to keep them in office. The new candidate may be attractive...but that is not enough to "fire" the incumbent.
Our Republic is like an engine, and we have regularly scheduled maintenance through our election cycles. The reason we term limit the President is to ensure that overhaul you mention. This November gives us a chance for a big one.
Regarding finances - you've never answered why I do not have the right (in your mind) to spend my money to promote whatever cause or candidate I like? Why is that not a freedom I should enjoy, as the 1st Amendment guarantees?
Just because you voted for him the last time
doesn't mean he did what he said he was going to. Are you voting for the same guy over & over just because he said he was going to do something the first go around but never lived up to it?
Why limit the President & not the rest?
OK, spend the money. Put it in a hat with no name, who it's from or to, just what you support or would like to see happen. All the money is then split up evenly between all the candidates who look at the idea not knowing who gave it or how much. Let the politicians we pay, decide if the idea is good for the country, not you, not the republican or democratic party, America. All the candidates get equal time for campaigning based on the amount of money in the hat & only their ideas matter. Now we'll vote on candidates bsed on what they say they will do for the country & not contributors because nobody knows who contributed, how much, or to who.
If agri coruption is spending $500 million on campaign contributions today, would they still spend $500 million tommorow if they weren't getting the one on one, the influence? Would they spend the money if it went to everybody to be split up evenly & let our representatives pass farm bills based on fact, not the influence of contributions or knowing who contributed? If you're telling us they should be able to contribute so a candidate knows who to thank is seems to suggest a favor in return. I don't see that as being best for the country or individual taxpayers.
No tax cuts because of who you are or how much you contribute. If an idea has merit, they can pass bills or laws not knowing who contributed or where to invest their money. No free plane rides, no lunches, no golf, or any of the other good stuff.
Better yet, mix it up so the money is contributed under a different name & let politicians think somebody else contributed it. Let's say $500 million contributed by AG is labeled as if it were contributed by environmentalist. Who is the politicians going to be working for now & would AG get $280 billion in a farm bill?
Why would you spend your money if it wasn't buying representation for yourself? Is America more important or are you & your needs/wants? Can & is our representation being bought?
Udapimp--the truth looms near!
Young women think power is SEXY
Old women think it's another JOB
Just because you voted...
No, GG, they have to re-earn my vote every term. For example, Representative Sali voted over 90% as I would have him vote on issues that matter to me. That's pretty good - why should I vote for someone else?
Why term limits for the President and not the rest? Oh my, you don't really need an answer do you? We learned this in civics or government class. The President is the only one who could become "king" AND they control the military - so we don't want them to get toooooo cozy in the job.
You keep mentioning "agri corruption" and I don't see it listed anywhere. Is their stock traded? Who is CEO? What are their major holdings? I can't find them anywhere.
So I can spend my money with no name who it's from or to? How is that Constitutional? Why can't I buy billboards and tv ads and newspaper and radio shots for whatever enterprise or idea or candidate that I support? You would really take that away from me, change the Constitution and tell me I cannot spend my own money as it pleases me?
You'll note I jumped over under FO to broaden our stance....
Wide stances ARE your choice.
You could have a narrow one with practice in this case.
I can go with the BSali vote, if that's you're guy, vote.
How would BSali do if all the out of state money wasn't allowed? Personally I've had my fill of the BS.
You may be right about the king thing, Dubya would like that. Allowing multi millions or billion dollar corportations throughout the nation to buy politicians while people who have to use all their money to survive suggests an unfair influence. If a corporation has so much money they can afford to give a million to one party & three quarter million to the other so they have influence in which ever party wins isn't a vote for the person of their choice, it's a sure bet. If they have so much money that they can hand it out, they don't need tax cuts, keep the money & quit interferring in government so as to profit at the expense of the country.
One controlling party is just as bad as having a king if the same party controls for too long. I agree in the way democracy works, to a point, but things have to fail as they have for eight years now before the other party finally gets back in the game. We were stuck with Bush in part because people don't tend to vote out a president who get's US into war. For what ever reason people think the same guy who got US in will finish the job. Today's paper has an article about intelligence, Bush, Cheney & co. using it to promote war in Iraq. What I find interesting in a separate article is Gates holding two top Air Force people accountable for mishandling nuclear weapons & components, as it should be yet a president manipulates US into war, blows smoke rings up Congress's wazzo, & Congress can't find the stones or brain to hold accountable the president. Would they be admitting incompetence? The don't you support the troops card seems to be working. How is it we support them, or not? Send them to die & we support them with magnets on a car yet they don't have equipment & health care or bring them home from a war we shouldn't have started?
My boss at the Nebraska Dept of Forestry was making money selling federal excess property, why wasn't the DOD? Why is the FEPP program I suggested be eliminated years before the Iraq war, a program started in the sixties, had outlived it's original concept, brought to an end. People in Iowa, & Kansas were doing time in prison for the same federal offenses as my boss yet my boss is scooted out the door & the program rebuilt instead of eliminated. How many $ could have been used by the DOD, lives saved?
What good does it do the country or people to have government fumble around for years, start a war, run the economy to ground, & then vote in the other party which is just as responsible & will eventally fail as well? If they worked together for America instead of fighting for control, I would be all about the sytsem that excites you to the point you can't leave home without wearing depends. Democracy, voting may have the right idea, a sound plan at one time but $ is having way too much influence & indivduals who vote aren't the source of a great deal of that money. $500 from this guy or that guy isn't going to sway Congress or the president. Add that $500 from a million people plus all the big $ & now we have an influence. Join up with the people who spend the big bucks & you're on the winning team?
www.ewg.org www.followthemoney.org let's US see who is getting the money but how many people look? Agri corruption doesn't have to be a fortune 500 co. or listed on the stock market, it's like a disease, wide spread & out of control. Can't swing a dead cat without someone in agriculture so in some ways it's even bigger than a company on market or 500 list. There are several companies in agriculture on the fortune 500 list & several lised on the market. They're not all affiliated except through our representation handing our billions of tax $ in subsidies. You use what ever means neccessary to make your point but you know what is happening, you don't mention it if it doesn't fill your needs. It's the spin.
What a smart way to influence government, no one company but hundreds, thousands, & more all benefitting individually while contritutions all come from one industry. The $280 bill farm bill is spread all over, some doing good, some not. Even Simplot used to get subsidies. How does a billionaire or corporation worth millions justify accepting tax $ from individuals working check to check? Sure some give back, tax deductible? Others don't, roll in the $. Those are the unAmerican companies I refer to.
Why does a fotune 500 AG company need tax cuts? Why does a company that grosses billions of dollars annually, nets millions, need tax cuts when a family man making $30K watches his tax $ go to subsidies to the fortune 500 company then pay sales tax on groceries as in Idaho? All the fortune 500 companies contribute while millions of individuals can't afford to & that is translated into representation? We pay our reprentatives wages, provide health care, & retirement while we lose all the same but where do we fit in? Go to Iraq, fight & die so the rich can continue to profit?
Corporations used to pay 50% of taxes?
I didn't say anything about the constitution but while we're on it. Go ahead & buy bill boards but don't be offended if I suggest you're buying my representation. If you can afford bill boards & I can't it suggests you can afford a politician, democracy is for sale. I can't afford one so the politician of my choice doesn't get the money he needs to compete? That suggests government is for sale if you have the money. You suggest I take that away from you while you buy my representation out from under me? Like 7 or 8 year old kids contributing to campaigns? Am I to believe a kid is all about politics, has a candidate in mind, or even knows what going on? People contribnute in the name of their kids so I suppose it's OK as long as they say they're looking out for the kid's future? Shell game, the disease is spreading.
If you're going to get into the constitution we may as well ask who is making all the changes? I'm not, Bush may be, republicans & democrats might, but I have very little influence. Campaign finane isn't just my problem. Ask the public about how the constitution's being rewritten. Somehow I doubt campaign finance as it is today, was part of the plan when the constitution was written. Government is manipulated through campaign finance & I doubt it was foreseen or it would have added volumes. Corporate $ is & would be rewritting the constitution no matter what so I would just a soon not be the one accused of depriving you your constitutional rights when in fact the rights of Americans as individuals are the rights being stomped on. You may not agree but your rights are being taken just like the rest of US. You may not realize or care but to suggest I'm would take your rights while mine are being taken is just more spin.
Not spin
Just trying to understand your take on it all. How can we reform campaign finance laws, etc., without taking away my individual rights?
It seems as though you are touting an egalitarian society, which is in direct opposition to the meritocracy we designed to fuel our capitalist economy. We know they do not work - not in practice or even in theory.
If, like in the game Monopoloy, we collected all of the World's money and redistributed it equally to each person - just as at the beginning of the game, in short order the same people who have the money now would have it again, and the same people without would have lost theirs.
This is not due to dishonesty but rather just like you learn at investing or financial management seminars - you cannot continue to do what poor people do and expect to be rich. The rich people are so because they learn the rules of the game and outplay the others.
Of course an egalitarian society ends that just as hippee communes did, and early 20th Century "utopian communities" set up in Colorado, Montana, N. California, etc. But that is not the system developed for us.
So again I ask, as I understand what you do not like....what do you like? Is there a candidate or a cause that you favor? Aim me at someone, or at a proposed law that might work.
Rich is highly overrated...
Maybe
The only thing we know for sure is that money cannot buy poverty.
OF COURSE IT CAN!
You spend all of it and YOU ARE THERE!
But...
...once you're there you no longer have the necessary money to sustain the poverty...
It's not as easy as it looks.
You can't afford...
to buy a vowel, it that it?
But...
...if those miles were earned while conducting state business then he should not be using his upgrades for personal/campaign travel. Now if the dude is traveling on GOFP money well more power to him.
Google Risch for Senate
here's some fun!
Go to Google and do the search. Risch actually has a sponsored link on the results. That means every time someone links through to his site, he has to pay Google some money. AND they are ALSO paying for the same link if you Google LaRocco for Senate. Nice website promotion, but needlessly wasteful!
Sooooo, let's ALL do it a LOT of times! Just keep linking through it.
Never mind his site comes up anyway and the campaign doesn't need to be sponsoring their own site.... gosh! what idiots!
Sorry! Won't work!
Google has ALGORErithms that recognize "click fraud".
Not "idiots" and not "wasteful"
Covering the bases - that is good campaigning. Always run as if you are way behind. If you have any doubts replay Hillary Clinton's five months to failure from Iowa to yesterday.
They Agreed
Apparently they agreed. Cause it's not popping up now. The Internet works FAST!
On Off On Off On
Now the sponsored links are back.
Ahhh,,,, an afternoon of simple pleasures!
Good Gawd, Pimp,
what an incredibly mundane life you must lead.
But on the positive side, your thrills come cheap.
Just sayin' is all.
Live for nighttime
What can I say?
My days are boring & mundane but my nights are loaded with excitement!
Let me guess:
During the day you're a relentless button clicker, giggling as you resurrect (assuming you ever left it behind) junior high style harrassment; orange stained finger stabbing, stabbing, stabbing that mouse button, while Cheetoh crumbs slide lazily off your pendulous abdomen.
At night,you wash out your dainties in the sink and set your hair in pin curls, in preparation for the next day's button clicking.
Mmm. Good times.
John Miller said it better...
Socks
No socks
Socks
No socks
Socks
No socks...
PS the links aren't always the same
especially on Google Groups.
Is Risch traveling as Lt.
Is Risch traveling as Lt. Governor spending Idaho tax dollars to fly first class or is this a trip paid for by his champaign.
Good question
I'm a tall guy and hate sitting in those child seats back in coach, but I remember many times flying I would see (then) Governor Andrus coming down the aisle and scrunching into the little seats too. I always respected him for that - and many other things too.
other possibilities
1. If this is an official business trip, he may have paid for an upgrade.
2. Some years back, I had the good fortune to travel on NRA business in first class. Were they being nice to me? No. There were no coach seats available to Detroit on short notice.
Quit bragging!
My only flight was in a Cessna.
Risch is a pig
People in Idaho having a hard time buying food, while Risch is slopping at the trough. 1st class as&. I have no respect for him.
Whino Larry; Looks as though we are going to have
to put up with 5 months of whining from Whino Larry. This ex and want to be again politician can not seem to say anything positive about anyone or anything. It seems as if all he does is whine. I am tired of it already. Is it asking too much for one to say here is my idea for fixing this or that problem or concern. At least, admittedly wealthy, J.R has focused on a problem- energy- and has said he will focus on trying to propose a solution. Have we heard anything of the same from Whino Larry? If so, I missed it.
Airfares R Us
LaRocco paid 990 and Risch paid 522?
Upgrades... So when a state employee (Lt. Gov) or governor flies on state business i.e. trade missions to China, Cuba, & Mexico, do those miles go towards his personal (campaign) upgrades later? Or should they delegated only for future state business (reduced airfare)?
It's all sounds like a slippery slope.
Ideal vs Reality
In an ideal world those miles earned on state business should be credited to future travel on state business. The reality is that state employees are allowed to collect and retain those miles for personal use. I know several state employees who fly to IF or Lewiston just for the miles even when it would be cheaper to drive.
Luxury is as luxury does
I think his son misspoke.
He DOES travel in luxury (1st class), he just doesn't have to pay for it sometimes.
Maybe the following email I received clears things up a bit.
How many zeros in a billion?
This is too true to be funny.
The next time you hear a politician use the
word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the 'politicians' spending!
YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.
A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.
D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E.
A billion dollars ago was only
8 hours and 20 minutes,
at the rate our government
is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain...
let's take a look at New Orleans ...
It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.
Louisiana Senator,
Mary Landrieu (D)
is presently asking Congress for
250 BILLION DOLLARS
to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number...
what does it mean?
A.
Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman, and child)
you each get $516,528.
B.
Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
C.
Or... if you are a family of four...
your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington, D. C
HELLO!
Are all your calculators broken??
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)!
Li quor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
St ate Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fe e Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Su rcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt...
We had the largest middle class in the world...
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?
Can you spell 'politicians!'
And I still have to
press "1"
for English.
I hope this goes around the
USA
at least 100 times
What the heck happened?????
I don't just kick repubilcans, I kick them all. Does anyone believe campaign finance doesn't contribute to the problem?
Yes, yes, yes.....oops, no.
It is funny. It's been going around a bit but always fun to rediscover.
I agree with everything there, actual and inferred...except your conclusion. There is not one shred of anything that suggests that our campaign finance model is to "blame" for any of the ills. Not one.
Railroads?
You made the point earlier that the teamsters destroyed the railroads:
I agree with the sorry state of our rail system, I have written numerous times that it will take 10 years of constant upgrades and building and $ billions of investment to get our rail up to speed.
Thank the teamsters and trucking industry for their power politics in destroying the railroads.
Teamsters never contributed to the campaigns of politicians? Why did the Teamsters come about? From this working man's lessons in life it was because of abuse by employers & government no doing anything about it. Sound a little like illegal immigrants being abused the last 50 years? I've worked for unions, don't really feel they are the best thing since canned beer but can help in the case of an abusive employer. I've worked outside the union & went to the state & federal dept.s of labor, they were always worthless, always worked for the company/corporation. I've had people in the dept. of labor come right & tell me politicans are emplyers so don't expect much as an employee!
You are all about giving to who you like to get what you want but blame the Teamsters for doing the same thing in getting what they wanted. Obviously don't like what they did with railroads. Democrats do more for unions, GOP would break them all, & the GOP has the NRA while democrats would take away our guns. How can I trust either party? I want to keep my guns & want to make a living wage. Am I suppose to pay to both parties to get what I want? Like most Americans I can't afford & should not have to pay again because I already do through taxes. Why are my taxes void because of campain Finance? Government has the people fighting each other while poilticians make money from corporations which contribute while getting tax cuts Iindividuals absorb.
Our government, both parties, have US in Iraq, soldiers are fighting together for America. They come home or their families are here being driven apart by the same representatives who got US into this war. How can we stand united in Iraq while fighting each other at the same time & expect to survive a war when terrorist who use the system you support as their best weapon, ally in DC?
I'm all about balance, I'm not a republican or a democrat, I'm an American. What I would like is for the two parties controlling America, while taking $ from whoever can afford to buy a poitician to stop! Do what's best for America & the people. They don't need money to hear what needs to be done for America. Let coprorations hand over ideas but keep the money out. I expect our representatives to hear what we need as a nation & if a corporation has something to say, fine but don't buy my representation.
We pay the wages, provide health care, & retirement of our representatives which we're losing more of everyday. I fail to see how a politician taking money from a corporation is going to represent any iundividual. Why do corporations contribute? It's a simple question with an obvious answer. Candy coat it any way you like, it's buying our representation. The Teamsters did it when they had the people they wanted in office & the everybody who has the money is doing it today. It's gotten out of hand. If a coproration has enough money that they can give millions to both parties they need to keep their money & get out of DC. Let our represnetatives work for US without waving money in their face to get tax cuts.
You ask what I want, Balance. I know what you want, to buy my representation, you want it all. Republicans want it all, democrats want it all, coprorations want it all, but all the people want is America to be run in a fair & honest way for America & the American people. We had a revolution to get from beneath this control freak mentality once before.
You write...
"Democrats do more for unions, GOP would break them all, & the GOP has the NRA while democrats would take away our guns. How can I trust either party? I want to keep my guns & want to make a living wage."
That is the best post of the week. You make very good points, and the truth is that I don't have a snappy response. You win this round.
Thanks, but did we solve any problems?
We may agree, disagree, but at least understand now each other. How are we going to solve the problems? I can't take your constitutional rights, you can't have mine.
Bring the two parties together, down off the individual power trips, doing what's best for the nation & people? United once again & that is what I like about America, government working together for the good of the nation. Fights over. Nobody can defeat that unified nation.
Solving the problems
Well, the problems you see and the ones I see are both bigger than either us. I think we just keep chipping away at them one vote at at a time, one letter to the editor, one new law passed or old one fixed, one corruption exposed, one honest person promoted, one good lobbyist in the right lobby at the right time, one good campaign contribution - oh, oh, we're right back where we were... (smile).
But maybe better.
I'd have to say better but not finished.
I can see countries disagreeing to the point of war, their interests are good for their perspective countries. Fighting amoung ourselves to the point of splitting the country can't be a good thing, other countries, or terrorists gain advantage.
Our views as individuals differ, we can't all have what we each want. Allowing two parties to continue as they are only pits US against each other. Two parties with the nation's interests, not the highest bidder in mind, has a better chance of getting the majority & the country, what we want & need.
OK, allow lobbyist but representatives on our payroll shouldn't benefit from $ contributed. I've never had a boss who would allow me to take money & hand out benefits to the contributor at the expense of my boss. Why would I? Tax contributions to politicians who aren't on our payroll & take contributions given to our representatives. If corporations are willing to give the contributions to country & pay lobbyist, fine. I don't care if their lobbysist are allowed to meet with representatives to talk, no golf in Scotland, no lunches, just working relationships.
Representatives shouldn't benefit at the expense of their employer who doesn't gain from tax cuts, it's an obvious buy out. I don't want another $8 an hour job & have to pay the teaxes evaded through campaign finance so the coprortaion canprofiyt. If I were a terrorist I would love this, would find a way for my money to influence government while breaking America from within. The working class guy who goes to war in Iraq can't afford to contribute, is forced to pay taxes which pay, provide health care, & retirement to representatives, & taxes evaded through contributions. What's democratic about that? Just the vote? What's so great about democracy if all I get to do is vote, pay the taxes, & go to war? I can get a deal like that anywhere. We might run around the world & tell everybody how great it is but we'd be the obvious fool.
I get to vote for the guy who took the money, lives like a king, then gives tax cuts to the contributor, taxes I absorb? I'd rather have a revolution just like we had, for what appears to be the same reasons, taxation without representation. Why would anybody fight for a country when government, my representatives hand out tax cuts, lie to make me pay taxes evaded through campaign finance?
Am I protected from terror? I'm more afraid of my government than terrorist. I could defend myself against terrorist if they were shooting at me. I would be killed & labeled a threat to America if I tried that against the US government who I pay to defend me yet fail as with 9/11. If my government came to my house & started shooting it up & burned it to the ground I would be out of luck. If terrorist came to my house I could shoot back. Ruby ridge, Waco, & the fiasco in Texas where children were taken are just a couple examples. Who is going to step in & stop government if they decide to attack any taxpayer?
If government can't keep terrorist out of America without starting wars in countries where there were no terrorist threat to America to start with, I don't feel very safe here in America. No American would come to my side if government decided to attack my house, everyone is afraid of government. We're all presumed guilty until proven innocent. I wouldn't have to break one law & government could come to burn me out & shoot me for no reason. Big deal if my family won a law suit after I'm dead. What do I get a nice rock & golden showers?
If terrorist came to my house I could at least defend myself, they wouldn't be backed by my government, my own tax $, & paid representatives. If I came out alive, I wouldn't have to answer to the law & go to jail as I would against my own government should some nut decide to attack me for no reason. The US government is no less a threat to US taxpayers than terrorist. How many have died since 9/11? They might have signed up for it but they're still dead through the actions of the US government. Whay good has the war in Iraq really done?
The majority of American people want US out of Iraq but we're still there. Is that representation, majority rule? It is if you put all the power in the hands of a nut which we obviously have. There's more proof everyday of Bush & Cheney lying to get US into this war, manipulating Congress & the America people. Why are those two still in office? They have been proven to have lied, we all know they lied. Congress isn't going to do anything, they went along with it. America should be held acoountable by the UN. The world should be holding US for war crimes. We the people are responsible, we allowed it & continue to allow it just like Germany with Hitler. Doesn't say much for democracy. One of these days the rest of the world will decide for the American people the guilt of our representatives & our failure to step in.
Terrorist did more damage through 9/11 to America than anyone realizes, they allowed US to become murders through our representatioin in DC. It's even more impressive
in that our representatives are still covering the lies to avoid rsponsibility. How can they all suggest they were wrong in supporting Bush in war & not get US out while Bush & Cheney continue the manipulation by suggesting we don't support the troops if we don't continue the war?
What is this? Ringling Bothers Barnum & Bailey Three Ring Circus? All star wrestling has nothing on the shell game in DC. Telling the world democracy is great, America is the greatest country in the world, & all about the freedom we enjoy doesn't cover the lies anymore. Sorry but America has run out of lies, can't hide the obvious. Bush & Cheney are more proficient killers than Hitler, Saddam or whoever history has to offer. They are doing it in our name, with our military, with our money, & the rest of the world is going for it just like We the People. Better hope we can continue to fool them all before they wise up & all get together.
When peole used to say 9/11 was a great plan I didn't believe it, used to say any 15 year old kid could have done what they did. I was wrong, it's only starting, they have manipulated US into a lie that goes on forever just like the killing they have been doing for thousands of years. Bush & Cheney did exactly what terrorist knew & wanted & it's breaking US. Bush is too stubborn to admit he's wrong & would rather make billions of $ starting another war with Iran. What's Bush got to lose, he already made his place in history. Nothing left to do but enjoy the money, more than Saddam was making.